A new International Compliance Association specialist certificate in private banking is now available and relationship managers are eligible. The main subject is how to deal with politically exposed persons or PEPs.

A new International Compliance Association specialist certificate in private banking is now available and relationship managers are eligible. The main subject is how to deal with politically exposed persons or PEPs.

The course centres on money-laundering risk in private banking and touches on sanctions and terrorist finance as well. Compliance Matters asked David Robson, the head of research at International Compliance Training, the main training partner of the International Compliance Association, whether it applied to RMs.

"Yes, and also for anyone else dealing with customers with PEP issues. There are no rival qualifications from anywhere else on the subject of money-laundering. The course is available now - you can do a fully online course OR the ICT can deliver a workshop to your firm, anywhere in the world.

"There is an online multiple-choice exam, as with ACAMS (the Association for Certified Anti Money Laundering Specialists)."

ICA qualifications rise to diploma and advance certificate level. For those higher qualifications, there is no multiple choice but only course-work and written papers. This is a level at which ACAMS does not operate, although Robson thought that it may have introduced a second level to its examinations.

All the study that the ICA promotes is part-time and designed for people who are working in day-jobs.

On a broader note, ICA workshops are now available in Spain, Poland, Greece, Sri Lanka and the British Virgin Islands. The ICT is closely allied to the ICA but not owned by it.

The ICA also has a similar course on correspondent banking up and running. The cost of these courses is about £580 + VAT per head. Discounts apply to parties of more than five people.